Georgia football notes: Bulldogs assume A.J. Green will be eligible to play

Wide receiver thought to be among targets of NCAA investigation

By SETH EMERSON

sports@ledger-enquirer.com

ATHENS, Ga. — Three days from the opener, Georgia coach Mark Richt would not address whether star receiver A.J. Green’s eligibility was in any doubt.

The NCAA sent a letter to Georgia last month requesting to interview an athlete over an “inquiry.” It was thought to be related to a larger probe of player’s involvements with agents, and Green and Richt have steadfastly declined to comment.

“You know I can’t talk about that. It’s a good try though,” Richt said, laughing. “I just can’t talk. I don’t know the answer to anything, other than I’m not supposed to talk about the situation. And I really don’t know.”

The NCAA has still issued no ruling on the agent probe. But two players known to be interviewed — North Carolina’s Marvin Austin and South Carolina’s Weslye Saunders — have been ruled out of their respective opening games. Each player’s school said it was not related to the agent probe.

Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo was operating on the assumption Green would play. Asked to name the receiver rotation for Saturday, the first name Bobo mentioned was Green.

Mason to play (maybe)

Richt and Bobo have decided they will play true freshman Hutson Mason if starting quarterback Aaron Murray gets hurt on Saturday.

But it still remains a question whether Mason’s redshirt would be burned if the game is out of hand.

“God forbid something happens to our starting quarterback, Aaron Murray, Hutson would definitely play if he got hurt. I can at least say that,” Richt said.

The situation is muddled both by Mason’s status as a true freshman, and Logan Gray’s injury. Gray, who moved to receiver but was still available to play quarterback, missed a week of practice with an ankle injury.

Bobo said Mason was the clear No. 2 quarterback, but otherwise left it vague.

“You’re preparing to play, you’re No. 2, and if No. 2 goes in the game you gotta be ready,” Bobo said. “Whether you go in because we put you in or whether you go in because of injury, I don’t know.”

Head west, wait don’t

New athletics director Greg McGarity, when asked about nonconference football scheduling, said he wanted to wait to speak to Richt. But Richt gave some insight into his viewpoint when asked about it Wednesday.

Georgia is going to Colorado in October, and has a trip to Oregon planned for 2015. But based on trips in recent years to Arizona and Oklahoma State, Richt is happy to schedule closer to home.

“I’ve learned it first-hand that flying back through the night from Arizona is not good for your team,” Richt said. “I think in the future we’re gonna try and minimize that as much as we can.”